Illuminated aquarium



Filed May 26,. 1926 S-@Jew l lio Patented `luly 5, 1927.

, iiiviriin STATES "JOHN A. SGHRIMP, .LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ILLUMINATED AQUARIUM.

Application led May 26,

-My invention relates to an illuminated lfquarium and the structure formingthe subject matter of my present invention is an `improvement on a somewhat similar structure disclosed in my co-pending application for 11S. 'Letters Patent filed January'7, 1926, Serial No. 79,756. n

-The principal objects of my invention are to generally improveupon and simplify the construction of the aquarium disclosed in my Yaforesaid co-pending application, and to provide an improved form of bottom or base plate for the aquarium, which base plate is preferably formed of yvitrified earthen material, the same being, shaped so as to represent miniature hills, mountains, and valleys; further, to construct the base member so that it is readily removable from the lower poi'- `tion of the aquarium in order that the aqua'riun'i and base member may be readily cleaned; and further, to form through the earthenware base rmember a series of apertures which permitsediment, small particles of food, etc., to pass into the space beneath the base member, thereby keeping the water within the aquarium comparatively clean.

'Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construct-ion and arrangemet of parts that will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in whichF Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an equarium embodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is la horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig.. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken online 3 3 of Fig. 2.y

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, 10 designates a supporting frame for the body of the aquarium, which frame consists of an angle bar bent to form a circular or polygonal member with one of its fia-nges occupying a y vertical plane and the other flange occupying a horizontal plane and being inwardly presented, thus providing a support for theV aquarium body. y

Frame 10 is supported by short legs 11, preferably formed of metal. The aquarium body comprises a. skeleton frame, preferably formed of metal, and said frame includes base rails 12, top rails 13 and vertically disposed posts 14. These rails and posts 1926.k Serial N0. 111,855.

are preferably formed integral `with each other and arranged in the openings between the uprights or posts 14. are sections 15 of glass, the edges of rwhich are sealed to each other and to the parts of the frame by means of asuitable water-proof 'cement or putty. The bottom of the aquarium comprises a shallow pan-like member 16, preferably formed of sheet metalhaving on its edge a horizontally disposed flange 17 that rests directly upon and which is sealed tok the inwardly presented flanges of the lower members 12 of the aquarium frame.r

Formed in the member 16 justy inside the flange 17 is a depression 18, the same serving as a seat for the marginal portion of the removable bottom 19 of the aquarium, which removable bottom is preferably formed of vitrifiedearthen material thatis shaped to represent miniature hills, mountains, and valsediment and the like which may gravitate to the bottom of the aquarium to pass into the space between the removable bottom 19 and the bottom member 16.

Formed at the center of bottom member 16 is a depression 23 that is internally threaded and removably seated therein is the externally threaded lower end of an' inverted cup-shaped member 24 of glass. Formed in the bottom member 16 andy leading from the depression 23 outwardly to the `edge of said bottom member is a trough-like depression 25 which serves as a drain when the water within the aquarium is being drawn off, and arranged in the wall of member 16 at the outer end of this depression is a valve 26. g

Extending entirely around the inner lower corner of the aquarium body andresting on flange 17y is av conduit' 27, preferably formed of metal tubing, and arranged there- Leading in are current carrying wires 28. from the conduit 27 upwardly and arranged immediately behind each Iost or upright 14 is a conduit 29 containing ranch conductors 30 and which latter lead to small electric lamps 31`that are positioned in sockets in the upper ends ci the conduits 2S/N 'llhese sockets are preferably located inside the upper rail 13. f

Arranged withinthe depression 23 is a socket 32 for an electric lamp 33 that is positioned within the transparent cupA 24e and;4 leading to this socket 32v from the conductors y 28 are branch conductors are e closed in a suitably arranged conduit 34;, the being positioned lbeneath bottom plate 16.

wWhen current is `supplied to the conductors 28,` the lamps 31 and 33 will'beliglited,

thereby adding materially to the appearance of the aquarium, particularly at night and the interiorV of the aquarium will. be illuminated to a certain'entent as .a result" oi. light rays from lamp passing outwardly throughy the openings 22 in thejremovable bottom member 19 and through the window openings 21 in the castleerepi'esenting meinber 20.

An aquarium constructed in accordance with my invention presents a novel, interesting, and pleasingappearancc, especially ingshaped torepresent hills, valleys and a towerV or castle, adds materially to the appearance ot the aquarium, 'and this bottom member is formed in a single piece,it may be readily removed and cleaned.

i It will be understood that minor changes in the size, iorin and construction of the various parts of my improved aquarium may Abe 'made and substituted Ytor those lherein shown and described without departi f' trom the spirit oit my invention, the scope ot which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claimas my invention:

1. An' aquarium having a double, bottom,r

the upper member et said double bottom beine' bodilv removable and shaped so as to .represent miniature hills and valleys, there Y being openings famed thm .nl

h said "removable upper member at the lower-most points in the depressions that are 'ff'oir-'ied therein, an electric lamp supported on the lower `member of the double bottom and positioned inthe space between the upper and lower members oli' said double bot-tom and transparent housingvsecured to the lower member of the double bottom*` and enclosing said electric lamp.

, 2. An aquarium having 'a double bottom,

the lower member of which bottomis pro- Y said lowei"member, a transparent housing' detachably secured to the lower member and enclosing said` electric lamp and the upper .member of said doublebottom being-shaped toA represent miniature hills and valleys, there being openings 'formed through said upper member at thel lower-most points of the depressions formedy therein andthe central portion of said upper member lbeing eX- tended upward' to form a miniature castle b aving` perforations in its walls.v c

8. Ain aquarium having a double bottom, the upper member of said bottom being provided with perforations, an electric lamp carried by the lower member of the double bottom and occupying the space between the upper and lower members of said bottom and a transparent housing removably secured to the lower member ot the double bottom and enclosing said electric lamp.

a. rlhe combination with an aquarium body, of a bottom member havingits mar- Y `ginal portion secured to the lower portion of the aquarium body, an electric lamp carried by the central portion of said bottom member, a transparent member detacl'iably secured to said bottoni member and enclosing said electric lamp and a `perforated"'false bottom removably positioned on thev lined bottom member. l

f 5. rlhe combination with an aquarium body, ol abottom member' having its marportion secured to the lower portion of lthe aquarium body, an electric lampv carried by the central' portion of said bottom member, a transparent member detachablysecured to said bottom member and enclosing said electric lamp and a perforated false bottom removably positionedy on'the fixed. bottom member, which false bottom' is shaped to represent miniature hills and valleys;

6. rl`hey combination with an aquarium body having transparent side walls,l of an iinperliorate bottom having its marginal portion supported by the lower portion ottA the transparent side wall of the body of the aquarium, a false bottom removably positioned upon said iinpertorate bottom, said talee bottom being shaped so as to represent miniature hills and valleys and there being openings formed through said. false bottom at the lowermost points in the depressions that are formed the-rein. Q

ln testimony whereof l ailiX my signature.

JoiiN A. somnMr. 

